Duplex envelope



arch 13, 1934. H. LEVINE.

DUPLEX ENVELOPE Filed March 4, 1931 .5:2 com m. 92:55 uw moc.; ma..oxPELzEw.

INVENTOR ATT'ORNEY Patented Mar. i3, 1934 ET ST res PAT-ENT cries Thisinvention relates to duplex envelopes of the type wherein mail matter ofdifferent classes may be forwarded and delivered in one piece, so thatthe sender may economize in the expenditure of postage by enclosingbooks, catalogues, or merchandise of second, third or fourth class, inone compartment of the envelope structure, while a communication orinvoice, requiring first class postage, is contained within a secondcompartment, which may be sealed against inspection, while the mattercalling for a lower rate oi postage is available for inspection byopening the iap portion oi the lower class compartment.

The primary object of the present invention is 3 to simpliiy and improvethe construction of duplex envelopes, particularly in the manufacturethereof, so that the iirst class enclosure may be securely attached tothe lower class enclosure by fastening means adapted to perform a dualfunction, whereby the fastening means for the rst class or auxiliaryenclosure desirably consists of a rivet and washer which extends throughthe under side oi the body of the larger or lower class enclosure and isexposed above the smaller or first class enclosure so that the fasteningwasher is accessible to cooperate with the washer and string usuallyprovided upon the outside of the flap of the larger enclosure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention i will be hereinafterspecifically pointed out, or will become apparent, as the speciiicationproceeds.

With the above indicated objects in view, the invention resides incertain novel constructions and combinations and arrangement of parts,

" clearly described in the following specification and fully illustratedin the accompanying drawing, which latter shows an embodiment of theinvention as at present preferred.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the duplex envelope showing the flapsfor the respective compartments in their open position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the duplex envelope, showing the same as itappears when closed for 45.1 transmission through the mails, and

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view through the envelope, taken on theline 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the cooperative attaching and fasteningmeans.

The duplex envelope in this instance includes an enclosure having a bodyportion 11 and inwardly folded portions 12 and 13 overlapping andconnected to each other along a substantially central line 14, and abottom flap portion 15 which 'J overlaps the lowerA ends of the connecdportions 12 and 13, thus producing a large compartment 16. The bodyportion 11 hasfa coextensive flap portion 17 which is arranged toenclose the upper open end of the compartment 16.

To enable rst class matter, or in fact any other matter, to betransmitted in one piece with the matter enclosed within the compartment16, I provide in this instance a supplementary en closure 19 whichincludes a lower body portion 2O having a coextensive portion 21 foldedupwardly from the bottom along a line 22 to form the top of theenclosure 19, the lower body portion also having coextensive flapportions 23 and 24 to overlap the sides of the top portion 21, and thusproduce a compartment 25. The lower body portion 20 also has an uppercoextensive portion which constitutes a flap 26 provided withY suitableadhesive material 27 whereby the ap 26 may be sealed upon the topportion 21 to provide an enclosure for rst class or other uninspectablemail matter.

Means are provided whereby the supplementary enclosure 19 and the largerenclosure 10 may be secured together so that the matter contained inboth enclosures may be transmitted in one piece, each bearing itsappropriate postage. As will be understood, means are desirably providedto secure the flap 17 against unintentional opening. In the presentinstance said means consists oi'a washer 28 having a string 29 attachedthereto, this washer and string device 23, 29 being adapted to cooperatewith a second washer 3G which in this instance performs a dual functionof securing the enclosure 19 to the enclosure 10, while at the same timebeing accessible'for cooperation with the string 29.

In accordance with the present invention, to secure the enclosure 19 inplace, in the manufacture of the envelope, I provide a rivet 31 whichextends through the upper portion 13 of the larger enclosure 10 at abouta point where this upper portion 13 overlaps the folded portion 12. Thisrivet is caused to extend through the lower and upper body portions 20and 21 of the enclosure 19; and the washer is provided beneath the head32 of the rivet 31, the washer and rivet retaining the enclosure 19 uponthe larger enclosure 10, while also leaving the washer exposed forcooperation with the string 29 in securing the nap 17.

The first class enclosure 19 is sealed by means of its iiap 26, and thelarger enclosure 10 is enclosed by bringing the flap 17 over the upperedges rof the inwardly folded portions 12 and 13, and

over the upper edge 33 of the enclosure 19 as seen at 18. When thusarranged the upper edge 33 of the smaller enclosure 19 will engage theinner folded portion of the iiap 17, and this will serve to preventrotation of the enclosure 19 relative to the enclosure 10.

Both the rst class enclosure 19 and the larger enclosure 10 may beprovided with return cards as indicated at 34- and 35 respectively,together with instructions for the emplacement of pos age stamps, asindicated at 36 and 37 respectively. The postage stamp locations 36 and37 are in close proximity to each other so that the postage stampsapplied to both enclosures may be conveniently cancelled at the postoice, the arrangement being such that this may be done in asinglecancelling operation. The name and address of the recipient is appliedto the portion21 of the enclosure 19, and also to one or both of theportions 12 and 13 of the larger enclosure immediately below theenclosure 19.

The smaller enclosure 19 is quickly and easily attached to the largerenclosure 10 by means of the rivet and washer, in a single manufacturingoperation, thus resulting in economy in manufacture while at the sametime providing a substantial and secure duplex envelope constructionsuitable for the needs of persons desirous of sending mail mattercalling for different rates of postage, in one piece.

Considerable particularities of description, as to materials, partdetails, dimensions, capacities and utilities may have been hereinindulged in, but it will be understood that these statements, made withparticular reference to that one, and the one now preferred, of the manypossible embodiments of the invention which is illustrated in thedrawing, are not in any way to be taken as definitive or limitative ofthe invention. Inasmuch as many changes could be made in the aboveconstructions, and many apparently widely Laenge? different embodimentsof the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof,it is intended that all matter contained in the above description orshown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language contained in the followingclaim is intended to cover all the generic and specific features of theinvention herein described, and all statements of the scope of theinvention which, as a matter of language, might be said to falltherebetween.

In other words, the scope of protection contemplated is to be takensolely from the appended claim, interpreted as broadly as is consistentwith the prior art.

What I claim as new is:

A duplex envelope having a main enclosure and a supplementary enclosure,the main enclosure having one side formed by overlapping flap portions,and the supplementary enclosure being of a length equal to the width ofthe main enclosure but of a height much less than the length of thelatter, the supplementary enclosure having its open or upper edge at theopen or upper edge of the main enclosure and having a sealable flap toclose said upper edge, the main enclosure having a ap to close its upperedge and substantially cover all of the flap of thesupplementaryenclosure, a button provided with a tying cord secured tothe flap of the main enclosure, and a button disposed against the frontface of the supplementary enclosure adjacent the lower edge of thelatter and above the overlapping flaps of the main enclosure, and aneyelet securing said button in place and passing through thesupplementary enclosure and through the overlapping iiap portions of themain enclosure.

HARRY LEVINE.

